Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample

The global aging population has led to a significant rise in dementia and cognitive decline, with Alzheimer's disease as the primary cause. Early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of dementia, is critical for timely intervention. The Mini-Mental State Examination (...

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Main Authors: Yoichi Sawada, Toru Satoh, Hideaki Saba, Yoshiki Kato, Tomoko Kuwada, Sayoko Shima, Kana Murakami, Megumi Sasaki, Yudai Abe, Kaori Harano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:NeuroImage: Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666956025000327
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author Yoichi Sawada
Toru Satoh
Hideaki Saba
Yoshiki Kato
Tomoko Kuwada
Sayoko Shima
Kana Murakami
Megumi Sasaki
Yudai Abe
Kaori Harano
author_facet Yoichi Sawada
Toru Satoh
Hideaki Saba
Yoshiki Kato
Tomoko Kuwada
Sayoko Shima
Kana Murakami
Megumi Sasaki
Yudai Abe
Kaori Harano
author_sort Yoichi Sawada
collection DOAJ
description The global aging population has led to a significant rise in dementia and cognitive decline, with Alzheimer's disease as the primary cause. Early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of dementia, is critical for timely intervention. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is commonly used for cognitive screening, yet its limitations—such as ceiling effects and educational biases—may hinder the early identification of subtle cognitive impairments. This cross-sectional study employed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore brain regions positively correlated with MMSE scores in a cohort of 510 participants. Significant gray matter volume (GMV) reductions were observed in the bilateral lateral frontal lobes, left medial frontal lobe, left hippocampus, left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and bilateral inferior temporal gyri in association with lower MMSE scores. Participants were classified into three groups—Normal Cognition (NC), MCI, and Dementia (D)—based on MMSE cutoff values. Compared to the NC group, the MCI group exhibited significant GMV reductions in the left hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left ACC, and right ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). The D group showed further GMV reductions in the bilateral hippocampus and left inferior temporal gyrus compared to the MCI group. These findings highlight the clinical utility of VBM-based structural MRI in assessing localized brain atrophy associated with cognitive decline, supporting its potential role in early diagnosis and intervention for MCI. Further research integrating longitudinal studies and multimodal biomarkers is warranted to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
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spelling doaj-art-a43356d7a26a4d12b1657ab0d1986c972025-08-20T02:01:51ZengElsevierNeuroImage: Reports2666-95602025-06-015210026410.1016/j.ynirp.2025.100264Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sampleYoichi Sawada0Toru Satoh1Hideaki Saba2Yoshiki Kato3Tomoko Kuwada4Sayoko Shima5Kana Murakami6Megumi Sasaki7Yudai Abe8Kaori Harano9Department of Contemporary Welfare, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Okayama Prefectural University, Japan; Corresponding author. 111 Kuboki, Soja, Okayama, 719-1197, Japan.Departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Psychiatry, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanSection of Higher Brain Function, Department of Rehabilitation, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanSection of Higher Brain Function, Department of Rehabilitation, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanSection of Higher Brain Function, Department of Rehabilitation, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanSection of Higher Brain Function, Department of Rehabilitation, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanDepartments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Psychiatry, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanDepartments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Psychiatry, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanDepartments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Psychiatry, Ryofukai Satoh Neurosurgical Hospital, JapanDepartment of Human Welfare, Faculty of Human Relations, Otsuma Women's University, JapanThe global aging population has led to a significant rise in dementia and cognitive decline, with Alzheimer's disease as the primary cause. Early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of dementia, is critical for timely intervention. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is commonly used for cognitive screening, yet its limitations—such as ceiling effects and educational biases—may hinder the early identification of subtle cognitive impairments. This cross-sectional study employed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore brain regions positively correlated with MMSE scores in a cohort of 510 participants. Significant gray matter volume (GMV) reductions were observed in the bilateral lateral frontal lobes, left medial frontal lobe, left hippocampus, left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and bilateral inferior temporal gyri in association with lower MMSE scores. Participants were classified into three groups—Normal Cognition (NC), MCI, and Dementia (D)—based on MMSE cutoff values. Compared to the NC group, the MCI group exhibited significant GMV reductions in the left hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left ACC, and right ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). The D group showed further GMV reductions in the bilateral hippocampus and left inferior temporal gyrus compared to the MCI group. These findings highlight the clinical utility of VBM-based structural MRI in assessing localized brain atrophy associated with cognitive decline, supporting its potential role in early diagnosis and intervention for MCI. Further research integrating longitudinal studies and multimodal biomarkers is warranted to enhance diagnostic accuracy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666956025000327DementiaGray matter volumeMild cognitive impairmentMini-mental state examinationNormal cognitionStructural magnetic resonance image
spellingShingle Yoichi Sawada
Toru Satoh
Hideaki Saba
Yoshiki Kato
Tomoko Kuwada
Sayoko Shima
Kana Murakami
Megumi Sasaki
Yudai Abe
Kaori Harano
Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample
NeuroImage: Reports
Dementia
Gray matter volume
Mild cognitive impairment
Mini-mental state examination
Normal cognition
Structural magnetic resonance image
title Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample
title_full Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample
title_fullStr Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample
title_short Assessment of localized brain regions correlated with MMSE using VBM analysis of structural MRI in a Japanese sample
title_sort assessment of localized brain regions correlated with mmse using vbm analysis of structural mri in a japanese sample
topic Dementia
Gray matter volume
Mild cognitive impairment
Mini-mental state examination
Normal cognition
Structural magnetic resonance image
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666956025000327
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